Monterey County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Monterey County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Water Resource Agency closed session item
The Monterey County Water Resource Agency board convened with one item handled in closed session. Details of the item weren't announced publicly at the start of the meeting.
Integrated Water Resources Management and Seawater Intrusion
The county is moving forward with an ad hoc committee to establish an integrated planning forum to address severe groundwater overdraft and financing for regional water projects.
Point-of-Use Water Treatment Ordinance for New Construction
The county is moving forward with a draft ordinance to allow point of use and point of entry water treatment systems for new construction on legal lots of record, helping property owners build homes where centralized water systems fail standards.
Composting Toilets and Rural Housing Regulations
Exploring whether Monterey County should loosen restrictions on waterless and composting toilets to help make rural housing and ADUs easier to build. Environmental health noted that current rules require standard septic or sewer infrastructure for gray water, but agreed to look at what other counties like Yolo are doing.
Pajaro Sunny Mesa Regional Water System Consolidation
A major water consolidation project is underway to combine failing private and small public water systems in North County into a reliable regional public utility managed by Pajaro Sunny Mesa CSD.
AT&T Landline Discontinuation Proposals
Public commenters urged the county to oppose AT&T's efforts to eliminate copper landline telephone service, citing critical safety needs during power outages and natural disasters.
Water Allocation Policy for Monterey Peninsula
The county is crafting a new policy to divvy up newly available water from the Pure Water Monterey Expansion project. Developers and residents are debating how to prioritize waitlists, affordable housing, and individual property permits without stalling economic investment.